DVD-CD filing sleeve

ABSTRACT

A file sleeve for retaining at least one compact disk or the like in a conventional file cabinet has two superimposed panels joined to form a single sheet of two plies. Each of the panels is embossed to provide a circular, disc receiving recess between the plies. In addition, adjacent the embossed section on one of the panels there is a semicircular window that provides access to the recess. A file tab at a top edge of one of panels allows for easy search of a plurality of sleeves stacked in a file cabinet one behind another to locate a sleeve holding a desired disc.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/636,473, filed on Aug. 7, 2003 and titled COMPACT DISC MAILER AND FILE FOLDER.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sleeve for storing compact disks upright. More particularly, the invention relates to a sleeve that can store such discs in a conventional file cabinet in a manner that allows a desired disc to be selected quickly and easily from an array of the sleeves in the cabinet.

2. Background Art

Compact disks (CD's), digital video discs (DVD's) and the like containing a software program, photographs, audio, video or other stored digital data are often retained in a hinged clear plastic case. If a user has a plurality of different discs, the cases usually are simply stacked one on another or are stored in a rack specifically designed to hold a plurality of cases in adjacent slots. In the case of a music CD or video DVD, the spine of the case caries an identifying label so a user can scan an array of cases until the desired disc is located.

In many cases however, the case is not labeled as where the disc is supplied to the user or is placed by the user in a generic (unlabeled) case. A disc also may be supplied to the user in a cardboard or stiff paper sleeve that does not have a spine. This makes it difficult or impossible to stack or otherwise store the disk so it can be easily identified and selected when arranged in a stacked or side-by-side array.

It also is known to store compact discs in plastic sleeves that are arranged in notebooks. This requires the flipping of the notebook pages to locate the desired CD or DVD.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved compact disk storage sleeve.

Another object is to provide a compact disc storage sleeve that is easily identified amongst a plurality of storage sleeves to facilitate retrieval of a desired disc.

A further object is to provide a disc storage sleeve that can be filed away in a conventional file cabinet and stacked with others one behind another.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, a compact disk storage sleeve is provided that includes room for the storage of up to two conventional discs in a side-by-side arrangement. The sleeve preferably is the size of a file folder for storage in the drawer of a conventional filing cabinet. To facilitate searching an array of sleeves arranged in the file drawer, each sleeve has a file tab at an upper edge for receiving the appropriate identifying indicia. Moreover the tab on each sleeve is slightly off set one from another so a complete array of sleeves stacked upright one against another in a file drawer can be scanned to quickly locate the desired sleeve and disk.

In one embodiment, the invention includes a blank made of paperboard or any other suitable material that can be cut and scored to form foldable panels. Two such generally rectangular panels are formed in the blank by a transverse fold line made by scoring the blank. The two panels are folded to superimpose one over the other and are adhered together to form a single sheet comprising a double ply wall with a pocket therebetween for holding a compact disk. Access to the pocket is provided by a slit in one of the panels. A file tab extends from an upper edge of the panels to receive identifying indicia.

In a preferred embodiment, the pocket is circular and slightly larger in diameter than a disk stored in the pocket. It is formed by cutting a semicircular window in one of the two panels, the diameter of the window extending generally parallel to a top edge of the panel. Below the window, a semicircular portion of the panel is embossed out from the plane of the panel, the window and embossed portion together forming a full circular area. The second panel has a full circular area that is embossed from the plane of the second panel. When the panels are folded along the score line and are superimposed one against the other, the full circle areas on the first and second panels overlap to form a pocket between the panels wherein the window in the first panel provides access to the pocket.

Accordingly, the present invention may be characterized in one aspect thereof by a compact disc filing sleeve comprising:

-   -   a) two superimposed panels defining a single sheet having two         plies;     -   b) a file tab extending from an edge of one of the panels; and     -   c) a disc retaining recess between the two panels, one of the         panels having an opening to access the recess.

In another aspect, the present invention may be characterized by a blank cut and scored for folding to form a compact disk filing sleeve, the blank comprising:

-   -   a) first and second panels separated by a fold line, one of the         panels having a file tab extending from an upper edge;     -   b) a first of the panels to one side of the fold line having a         semicircular window and an adjacent semicircular portion         embossed downward from the plane of the panel, the two portions         together defining a full circular area;     -   c) a second of the panels to the other side of the fold having a         circular portion embossed downward from the plane of the second         panel defining a second circular area; and     -   d) the circular areas being superimposed one over the other upon         folding of the panels along the fold line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a blank of the present invention for forming a disc filing sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a disc filing sleeve of the present invention formed from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIG. 1 only showing alternative embodiments of the blank for forming a disc filing sleeve of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a blank of the present invention generally indicated at 10. The blank is made of paperboard or any other rigid or semi-rigid material such as a composite, plastic or corrugated cardboard that can be die cut and scored for folding. The blank is elongated having free ends 12, 14 at opposite ends of the blank. For purposes of orientation, the obverse surface 16 of the blank is shown in FIG. 1.

The blank is divided into two panels 18 and 20 by a transverse fold line 22. The fold line preferably is scored to facilitate the folding the panels one relative to another as set out herein below. The two panels 18, 20 are generally equal in size except that one of the panels (shown here as panel 18) has a file tab 24 extending from an upper edge.

The first panel 18 is die cut to remove one and preferably two semicircular sections to form semicircular windows 26 through the panel. Preferably, the cuts are arranged so the diameter of the semicircular windows is parallel with the top and bottom edges of the first panel. Directly below the semicircular windows 26 are semicircular sections 28 that are embossed from the obverse surface of the blank so the embossed semicircular sections 28 extend slightly out from the plane of the opposite surface of the blank (the reverse surface). As seen in FIG. 1, the windows 26 and embossed sections 28 together define full circles.

The second panel 20 also is embossed. Here however, the embossed sections 30 are themselves full circles and they also extend slightly out from the plane of the opposite surface of the blank. The full circular areas formed by the semicircular windows 26 and embossed sections 28 on the first panel 18 and the circular embossed sections 30 on the second panel 20 are equally spaced from the fold line 22. With this arrangement, the circular areas on the first and second panels are superimposed one over the other when the panels are folded along fold line 22 as shown in FIG. 2.

Preferably the panels are folded to superimpose the obverse surface 16 of each panel one against the other.

As shown in FIG. 2, folding as described, to superimpose the obverse surface 16 of each panel one against the other will form a single two-ply sheet comprising a file sleeve generally indicated at 40. The overall size of the sleeve 40 is such that it will fit into the drawer of a conventional file cabinet. The fold line 22 will form one edge of the sleeve and the reverse surface of the blank will form the outside surfaces 32 of the sleeve. The two semicircular openings 26 in one of the panels are closed off by the second panel and these openings or windows now form the entry to a recess between the plies for receiving a disc.

As best seen in FIG. 3 one or another of the surfaces 16 can be coated with an adhesive as shown at 36 (leaving at least the circular areas on each panel adhesive free) so the panels will adhere together when folded. Folding and adhering the panels spaces the embossed sections 28, 30 apart so as to define a recess 34 therebetween wherein the window 26 provides access to the recess.

To use the sleeve, it only is necessary to insert a disk through the window 26 and into the circular recess 34. The file tab 24 is appropriately labeled and the sleeve, with its one or two discs is placed upright into a drawer of a conventional filing cabinet. To retrieve a desired disc from an array in the file drawer, it only is necessary to view to tabs, which may be off set one from another, to find the sleeve having the desired disc.

FIG. 1 shows the panels 18, 20 as being foldable side-to-side so that the fold line 22 forms an edge of the sleeve. However other arrangements are possible. FIG. 4 shows a blank where the two panels 18 a and 20 a lie one above the other and the file tab 24 a is formed by a three sided die cut extending into the second panel 20 a from the fold line 22 a. In this case, the fold line will form the top edge of a file sleeve and the file tab will be an extension of the first panel 18 a cut from the second panel 20 a. The blank of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that of FIG. 4 except the fold line 22 b will form the bottom edge of the sleeve when the panels 18 b and 20 b are folded one against the other.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the present invention accomplishes its intended objects in providing an improved arrangement for storing disks of various sort. The file sleeve as described allows for the upright storage of discs one behind another in a conventional file cabinet. Since the sleeve is relatively thin and stored upright, a plurality of discs can be contained in a relatively small space as compared to having discs in individual hinged cases.

Even though the sleeves are stored upright one against another in a file cabinet, the file tab at the top edge of each sleeve simplifies the task of searching for and locating a desired disc. In this respect the file tabs can be made so that the file tabs of adjacent sleeves are offset so they can be quickly scanned to find the desired tab and sleeve.

With the file sleeves of the present invention it is not necessary to flip through note book pages to find a desired disc or to scan the spines of an array of hinged cases stacked vertically or horizontally. 

1. A compact disc file sleeve comprising: a) two superimposed panels defining a single two ply sheet; b) a file tab extending from an edge of one of the panels; and c) a disc retaining recess between the two panels and one of the panels having an opening to access the recess.
 2. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 1 wherein the two panels are connected along a fold line that forms one edge of the two-ply sheet.
 3. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 1 wherein the opening is semicircular.
 4. A compact disk file sleeve as in claim 1 wherein a first of the panels has an embossed section that stands out from the plane of the first panel to form at least part of the disk retaining recess between the two panels.
 5. A compact disk file sleeve as in claim 4 wherein the embossed section is at least semicircular.
 6. A compact disk file sleeve as in claim 1 including an adhesive adhering the two panels one to another, the adhesive extending over substantially the entire surface between the two plies except for the area defined by the disk retaining recess.
 7. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 1 wherein the disc retaining recess is defined by embossed sections on each of the panels that extend outward from their respective panels and are superimposed to define the recess therebetween.
 8. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 7 wherein: a) a first of the panels has a semicircular window and the embossed section on the first panel is semicircular and immediately below the window, the window and semicircular embossed section together defining a circular area; b) the embossed section on a second of the panels is a full circle; and c) the window defining access to the recess as formed by the superimposed embossed sections.
 9. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 1 wherein the two panels are connected along a fold line that forms a side edge of the two-ply sheet.
 10. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 1 wherein the two panels are connected along a fold line that forms a top edge of the sheet and the file tab is an extension of one of the panels that is cut from the other.
 11. A compact disc file sleeve comprising: a) two superimposed panels laid one against the other, one of the panels having a file tab extending from an upper end; b) a first of the panels defining a front surface of the sleeve, the first panel having a semicircular opening in the panel; c) a second of the panels defining the rear surface of the sleeve, the second panel having a circular embossed section that extends in a rearward direction out from the plane of the second panel; and d) the semicircular opening of the first panel and the circular embossed section of the second panels being coincident wherein the embossed section forms a disc receiving recess between the two panes and the semicircular opening in the first panel defines the access to the recess.
 12. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 11 wherein the first panel has a semicircular embossed section that extends in a forward direction out from the plane of the first panel, the semicircular embossed section and semicircular opening of the first panel together defining a circular area that is coincident with the circular area defined by the circular embossed section of the second panel.
 13. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 12 including an adhesive layer on one or another of the panels for adhering one of the panels to the other and the coincident circular areas being adhesive free.
 14. A compact disc file sleeve as in claim 12 wherein: a) the first panel has a pair of the semicircular openings; and b) the second panel has a pair of the circular embossed sections.
 15. A blank cut and scored for folding to form a compact disk file sleeve, the blank comprising: a) a first panel having a semicircular opening cut from the panel; b) a second panel connected along a fold line to the first panel, the second panel having a circular embossed section defining a circular area; and c) the semicircular opening of the first panel and the embossed circular section of the second panel being equidistant from the fold line such that the opening and embossed section are superimposed one on the other upon folding the panels about the fold line to form a disc receiving recess between the panels with the window providing access to the recess.
 16. A blank as I claim 15 wherein the first panel has a semicircular embossed section adjacent the opening, the opening and semicircular embossed section together defining a first circular area and the circular embossed section on the second panel defining a second circular area, the two circular areas being equidistant from the fold line such that the two circular areas are superimposed one on the other upon folding the panels about the fold line to form a disc receiving recess between the panels with the window providing access to the recess. 17 A blank as in claim 15 wherein one of the panels has a an adhesive on at least part of it surface to adhere the panels one to another upon folding, both panels having an adhesive-free area corresponding to the first and second circular areas.
 18. A blank as in claim 15 wherein the first panel has a pair of semicircular windows cut from the first panel and the second panel has a pair of circular embossed sections. 